Home > MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan: Conservatives Don't Care If 'Half the Country Dies' in Order to 'Take Down Obama'

MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan: Conservatives Don't Care If 'Half the Country Dies' in Order to 'Take Down Obama'

By

Scott Whitlock

October 5, 2009 - 1:20pm

Morning Meeting host Dylan Ratigan on Monday smeared conservatives, saying
that the right doesn't care if "half the country dies" in order to "take down
Obama" on health care. Ratigan made his vitriolic remark while discussing glee
over the President's botched handling of the Chicago Olympic bid. Audio can be
found here[1].

MSNBC's Contessa Brewer complained, "Can you imagine this that some people
actually went as far as to cheer?" This led Ratigan to froth, "Sure. I mean,
there are people that are actually trying to derail health care in order to take
down Obama, even if it means half the country dies. So, of course, they don't
care about Chicago's Olympics. Are you kidding me?"

Ratigan isn't the first MSNBC host to accuse conservatives of wishing death
on Americans. On the September 23 Ed Show, Ed
Schultz[2] screamed, "The Republicans lie! They want to see you dead! They'd
rather make money off your dead corpse! They kind of like it when that woman has
cancer and they don't have anything for her."

The difference between Ratigan and Schultz, of course, is that the latter is
also the host of a liberal radio show. Ratigan, in theory, is supposed to
display some journalistic objectivity. Clearly, that didn't happen on Monday.

Later in the segment, the Morning Meeting anchor interviewed Republican
strategist Ron Christie and former DNC Communications Director Karen Finney.
Ratigan launched into a bizarre, off-topic rant about "corporate communism:"

DYLAN RATIGAN: The unemployment data in this country is a direct result of
the perpetuation of corporate communism, which has not been forced to adapt as
every other industry in this country has...I don't understand why the
Republicans are not more aggressive in demanding the release of this country
from the hostage state that it is in from the possession of the possession of
these communists.

A transcript of the October 5 segment, which aired at 10:17am EDT, follows:

DYLAN RATIGAN: Some Republicans and conservatives celebrating Obama's failed
attempt to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago. Down with Chicago! Contessa
Brewer has the latest.

CONTESSA BREWER: Can you imagine this that some people actually went as
far as to cheer?

RATIGAN: Sure. I mean, there are people that are actually trying to derail
health care in order to take down Obama, even if it means half the country dies.
So, of course, they don't care about Chicago's Olympics. Are you kidding me?

BREWER: I have to say, I think it's actually pathetic that when the
International Olympic Committee announces Chicago gets eliminated first round
and then we get this video. It was obtained by Hotline. Just watch.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: They were out on the first vote.

[Cheers erupt.]

BREWER: That applause was from some members of Americans for Prosperity, one
of the main conservative groups involved in the tea party protests. And, of
course, Rush Limbaugh is also weighing in on the President's setback.

RUSH LIMBAUGH: Folks! Worse day of his presidency! This is the guy who is
going to talk Iran into giving up its nukes! Barack Hussein Obama, mmm, mmm,
mmm!

PAUL KRUGMAN: Here is what New York Times columnist Paul Krugman had to say
about the conservative reaction. Quote, "We learned that the modern conservative
movement, which dominates the modern Republican Party, has the emotional
maturity of a bratty 13-year-old." Well, not all conservatives were cheering for
the political setback of the president. MSNBC's Joe Scarborough thanked the
President for going to Copenhagen. Here's what he said about Limbaugh on Morning
Joe.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Middle Americans that swing the election see that and think,
"Oh my God! Republicans have gone off the deep end."

BREWER: You may remember during the Bush presidency, Republicans labeled
some Democrats unpatriotic for challenging the administration's Iraq war policy
and post 9/11 strategy. Dylan?

RATIGAN: Oh, I do remember that, actually. Thank you for the reminder,
though, Contessa. Bringing in our panel, Ron Christie and Karen Finney,
Democratic strategist and Jonathan Capehart, editorial writer. Ron, how do you
utilize the opportunity that exists for conservatives in general in this country
to actually restore the most basic spirits of competition and freedom and all of
the rest of it and get away from the foolishness that we see from the deep right
and, for that matter, the deep left?

RON CHRISTIE (Republican strategist): Well, Dylan, I think there are plenty
of opportunities for Republicans to engage in policy matters and I think when
you look at this Olympic example, I want the United States to win. I think we
all wanted Chicago to win. The Olympics bring millions upon millions of dollar
to the host city. It's a very good thing and spot lights American values. I
don't think there is any glee taken from America losing. I think the issue with
Republicans, they might have policy disagreements with the President. You can't
make this personal because it makes you look spiteful, frankly.

RATIGAN: Yeah. Karen, you probably agree with that.

KAREN FINNEY (Fmr. DNC Communications director): I can't believe it, Ron and
I agree! This is a historic moment on national television.

RATIGAN: Mark the time and date. Mark the time and date.

FINNEY: Ron, certainly you have to admit that, you know, when people see
images of, you know, Rush Limbaugh and others and commentary from your
Republican counterparts, gleeful, joyful, talking about, you know, wanting to
make health care the president's Waterloo, that is unpatriotic. At some point we
have to come together as a country and it starts to look like it's the
Republicans are more interested in politics than actually getting something
done.

CHRISTIE: We've seen the Democrats say the Republicans aren't interesting in
policy debate. It has got to stop on both sides.

FINNEY: When have the Republicans come to the table on the policy side with
some ideas, not just rhetoric?

CHRISTIE: Actually, Republicans have come to the table with several many,
several good ideas as it relates to health care being able to purchase insurance
across state lines, making sure to have meaningful tort reform. And a lot of the
Democrats have said, "Oh, no." Those are diversionary. Those are stall tactics."

FINNEY: No, I think the President has said both of those ideas should be in.
So-

CHRISTIE: Actually they are not in the bill, Karen. In fact, a lot of the
Democrats in the Senate are reluctant to have meaning tort reform. We're hearing
about a pilot project. I think when you talk about patriotism I think both sides
need to stop this partisan bickering and realize the American people right now-
we're in a very serious crisis. Two wars, an economic crisis. Enough's enough.
Let's find common ground and get some policy differences settled.

RATIGAN: Don't you think there is an opportunity, Ron? As I see it, for the
Republicans if they can get their act together, to go straight at those in our
Congress who are currently enabling anti-competitive practices to perpetuate
themselves and the reality is- And we can go through this another day on the
show. As long as you perpetuate failed businesses in anti-competitive structures
are you going to have massive job losses. Do you think the unemployment data in
this country is an accident? The unemployment data in this country is a direct
result of the perpetuation of corporate communism, which has not been forced to
adapt as every other industry in this country has. But the banks haven't been
forced to adapt and the health insurance companies haven't been able to adapt.
Music industry had to adapt. Retailers had to adapt. Technology companies had to
adapt and yet the corporate communists that control our insurance and banking
structure have a strangle hold on innovation and adaptation in this country. I
don't understand why the Republicans are not more aggressive in demanding the
release of this country from the hostage state that it is in from the possession
of the possession of these communists.

CHRISTIE: Well, I tell you, if there anything about communism, Dylan, I think
I'd look at the anti-competitive practices the government has done. The
government has become involved. Dylan, the government now is major shareholder
in GM and the government-

RATIGAN: Listen, I know. Ron, No, no. I don't need the list. I know the list.
My point is why are the Republicans not fighting to end the corporate communism
that is costing this country its economic future? And no one is doing it.

CHRISTIE: Dylan, we'd be very wise to do so. Dylan, we would be very wise to
do so. I think people are looking around this country and saying what in the
heck is government doing so much in private business, private enterprise? And
why is the government trying to take over the health care sector? Why is the
government-

RATIGAN: But, the government isn't even doing that. I would say, why is the
government not releasing the true and fair market of free choice? They can't
even- The health insurance companies have an anti-trust exemption. Anyway, I
gotta go. This is preposterous. The corporate communists are in full control, as
far as I can tell.

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